posted on August 3, 2005 02:07:03 PMVictory for the Boy Scouts, Defeat for the ACLU
8/2/2005
By Amelia Wigton
CWA.com
Senate unanimously passes bill to protect Scouts' access to public facilities and federal funding.
The legal bullies at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sustained a substantial loss with the Senate's passage this week, by a 95-0 vote, of the Support Our Scouts Act of 2005.
The Act, which is an amendment to the Department of Defense authorization bill, is expected to pass in the House.
The Act establishes that the Boy Scouts, and any group officially associated with them, cannot be discriminated against in any way through the denial of access to federal funding or public facilities.
"It's about time Congress stepped in to protect the Scouts from the ravenous wolves of the ACLU and the other Scout haters," said Robert Knight, director of Concerned Women for America's (CWA's) Culture & Family Institute, who is himself an Eagle Scout. "For too long, the Boy Scouts have been treated like criminals instead of the irreplaceable, character-building outfit they are. Sen. Frist deserves a high-five for his leadership on this bill."
The ACLU has been after the Boy Scouts for years for the group's refusal to include atheists and homosexuals.
In 1999, the ACLU of Illinois filed a lawsuit against the Boy Scouts because of the Defense Department's sponsorship of the group. The ACLU claimed that federal funds should not be used to support the Scouts because members were required to swear an oath of duty to God, and that this violated the separation of church and state.
As a result, U.S. District Court Judge Blanche Manning ruled on June 22 that the Pentagon could no longer fund the readying of a Virginia military base for the 2005 National Scout Jamboree, which is currently taking place. The Jamboree brings together more than 40,000 Scouts, leaders and volunteers, and President George W. Bush is scheduled to speak.
Sen. Bill Frist (R- Tennessee), who spearheaded the legislation, expressed his gratitude to the Senate:
This amendment protects a unique American tradition that teaches our youth the importance of honesty, integrity and character. It enables the Scouts to continue their public service without the distraction of senseless legal and political attacks. I'm proud that my colleagues from both sides of the aisle chose to uphold the Boy Scouts' fundamental right of fair and equal access to public facilities. Now, more than ever, our nation needs young leaders who understand that content of character counts, and I'm pleased to know this integral scouting tradition will be protected as they continue their noble efforts to mold the hearts and minds of the next generation of America's leaders.
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CWA strongly supports and encourages the leadership of Sen. Frist and the Senate on this issue. The Boy Scouts is an important institution that teaches values and life skills. In light of ongoing assaults on the morality of young people today, we must support the continued work of the Boy Scouts to encourage integrity and character among tomorrow's leaders.
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
posted on August 3, 2005 02:13:46 PM
That is good news. There's a reason the organization is called :Boy Scouts".
"Why, it appears that we appointed all of our worst generals to command the armies and we appointed all of our best generals to edit the newspapers. I mean, I found by reading a newspaper that these editor generals saw all of the defects plainly from the start but didn't tell me until it was too late. I'm willing to yield my place to these best generals and I'll do my best for the cause by editing a newspaper." --Robert E. Lee
posted on August 4, 2005 04:14:47 PM
4 leaders killed by lightening in preperation for the Jamboree in Virginia
300 treated for heat exhaustion at the jamboree waiting for the President who did not show that day and rescheduled.
1 scout killed, three injured in Utah by lightening.
Mother nature has not been acting favorably toward the scouts.
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No, I'm saying -- I'm merely -- I'm saying what I'm saying. I don't know why I'm always having people say, are you trying to say -- you know what you can do if you want to know what I'm saying is listen to what I'm saying. What I'm saying is what I said ...
posted on August 4, 2005 04:49:03 PM
piinthesky - You're bad lol
Thanks Ron and fenix - I'd heard about the heat exhaustion problem...we're having a bit of that here too - as are many parts of the country - and the President's joining them being cancelled. After that I hadn't read about the lightning strikes. Boy it just wasn't their week.
Sorry, parklane...didn't get it.
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
posted on August 5, 2005 06:15:12 AM
Ha , the neocons sure hate any organization that upholds equal rights. They love discrimination just for the fun of it!
Those legal "bullies" have defended all races, religions, sexes, but some neocons, in their abject ignorance, refuse to see that everybody's rights should be protected, not just the rights of those they like.
OK, so my tax dollar will go to support the Boy Scouts and their policy of hate.....now with that money do you think they can get rid of those heterosexual, god-fearing child molesting Scout leaders?
posted on August 5, 2005 06:27:31 AM
I don't understand your reluctance to support a fine organization such as the boy scouts, they have done but good in this country and should be lauded.
Just because they do not allow certain people does not make them bad. They should have that right.
Nothing wrong with homosexuals, but just because you are gay doesn't give you the right to force yourself anywhere you want.
People seem to forget the Boy Scouts have rights to.
posted on August 5, 2005 06:42:23 AM
Ron - I agree that the Scouts have the right to exclude anyone that they want as they are a private organization. The problem is that since they have declared themselves a private organization that choses to remain exclusive of certain individuals I do not feel that they should benefit from public funds. We don't allow the Rotary or Elks Club or the League of Women Voters to hold private meetings on tax payer funded property for free so why should the Boy Scouts be different?
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No, I'm saying -- I'm merely -- I'm saying what I'm saying. I don't know why I'm always having people say, are you trying to say -- you know what you can do if you want to know what I'm saying is listen to what I'm saying. What I'm saying is what I said ...
- Ann Coulter
[ edited by fenix03 on Aug 5, 2005 06:43 AM ]
posted on August 5, 2005 08:12:31 AM
Ron - is there any particular reason that they can't sell cookies and raise funds to pay rent like everyone else? Why is it that you feel that they should be immune from doing something that it is perfectly within btheir abilities to do? Doesn't paying your way teach more than a free ride anyway?
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No, I'm saying -- I'm merely -- I'm saying what I'm saying. I don't know why I'm always having people say, are you trying to say -- you know what you can do if you want to know what I'm saying is listen to what I'm saying. What I'm saying is what I said ...
posted on August 5, 2005 08:47:36 AM
I don't 'buy' the argument fenix presents.
This bill is:
Senate unanimously passes bill to protect Scouts' access to public facilities and federal funding.
THEY were being discriminated AGAINST. While gay student groups meeting in publicly funded buildings the Boy Scouts have been EXCLUDED from those same advantages other groups were allowed.
Now THEY will have the same rights as other groups do.
The ACLU in the past decade is against all that is good and benefits America....while at the same time they protect the rights of all that has brought our society down.
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
posted on August 5, 2005 08:50:18 AM
Are you implying that homosexuals are bringing down our society?
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No, I'm saying -- I'm merely -- I'm saying what I'm saying. I don't know why I'm always having people say, are you trying to say -- you know what you can do if you want to know what I'm saying is listen to what I'm saying. What I'm saying is what I said ...
posted on August 5, 2005 08:53:26 AM
School groups can use the school facilities Linda however the Boy Scouts are not a school group. They are a private organiztion, independent of the educational system that expect to be able to utilize the facilities for free.
Tell me... why can't they run an annual fund raising program like the girl scouts do in order to raise their own funds to cfacilitate their activities? Why are they immune when other organizations that do postitive things within the community are not?
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No, I'm saying -- I'm merely -- I'm saying what I'm saying. I don't know why I'm always having people say, are you trying to say -- you know what you can do if you want to know what I'm saying is listen to what I'm saying. What I'm saying is what I said ...
posted on August 5, 2005 09:09:20 AM
I'm saying that if you allow any group use of public buildings and funding/sponsorship then they all should have the same right.
And yes I do think all this 'sexual' crap has brought American values WAY down. Sex should be private...and because one is of a tiny percentage of people whose sexual preference is different than most, certainly imo should give them 'rights' to federal funding. We're not spending federal tax dollars so that heterosexual groups can meet use public buildings. It's the same thing will Black Spring Break. Try getting away with White Spring Breaks. On affirmative action...same thing....it's reverse discrimination that's been going on for decades.
But what I was referring to was the NY-ACLU is suing now so bags passengers carry onto trains and buses can't be checked. What's wrong with them? We're at WAR...and they'd rather see buses and trains BLOWN UP...PEOPLE KILLED...because it's much more important to THEM that privacy rights are protected.
Fine...then when old AQ pulls the same crap here in the US that they've done in the UK....the anti-American ACLU can be SO proud that privacy rights weren't affected.
They're NUTS, imo.
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
posted on August 5, 2005 09:11:20 AM
And IF you want the Boy Scout to sell cookies so they can pay their own rent.....then ALL groups can do the same. They can ALL sell cookies to pay their own rent.
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
posted on August 5, 2005 09:35:20 AM
Fenix, yes they can sell cookies, or anthing else for that matter, but it seems our congress has deemed them grata status on certain things. I would rather not use money for that, but as I have said there are worse things.
Ron
posted on August 5, 2005 11:25:59 AM
""The ACLU in the past decade is against all that is good and benefits America....while at the same time they protect the rights of all that has brought our society down. ""
LindaTwelveK, opinions are one thing but that stupid statement takes the cake.
Why don't you do a little REASEARCH ? You won't and I know why...you'd find out that the ACLU defends the rights of everybody, Christians, Christian groups, churches, Jerry Falwell(if they fight for HIS rights , they'll fight for anybody).
You continually bad mouth the ACLU when you VERY obviously don't know anything about it. Just because they defend people you don't like does not make them bad. Luckily they don't see things your way....they believe EVRYONE has rights....much to your dismay
posted on August 5, 2005 01:35:33 PM
::I'm saying that if you allow any group use of public buildings and funding/sponsorship then they all should have the same right.::
Linda - you are selcetively ignoreing the point. The point is that SCHOOL groups are allowed to use the school facilities for free. Boy Scouts however are not a school organization. They have very vocally in numerous legal institutions declared themselves to be a PRIVATE independent organization. Therefor, just like any other private independent organization they should not be allowed to use school and public facilities without paying rent.
::And IF you want the Boy Scout to sell cookies so they can pay their own rent.....then ALL groups can do the same. They can ALL sell cookies to pay their own rent.::
They do Linda - every other Private independant organization that uses the facilities has to pay rent. the Boy Scouts are the only ones that don't.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
No, I'm saying -- I'm merely -- I'm saying what I'm saying. I don't know why I'm always having people say, are you trying to say -- you know what you can do if you want to know what I'm saying is listen to what I'm saying. What I'm saying is what I said ...
posted on August 5, 2005 02:28:47 PM
Author: Matt Deatherage
Posted: 7/14/02; 11:57:23 AM
Topic: ACLU defends Christian school kids
Msg #: 314 (top msg in thread)
Prev/Next: 313/315
Reads: 3723
ACLU defends Christian school kids
Whenever the Republican Right rails against organizations like the ACLU for being "atheist" or "anti-Christian," they always conveniently forget to mention cases like this one. Kids, of their own volition and on their own non-classroom time, want to distribute Christian literature at school. They have every right to do so, but the school district is stopping them, so the Iowa Civil Liberties Union is helping the kids in their lawsuit.
It's simple, folks: kids in schools have a right to pray, read a Bible, read the Q'oran, eat kosher foods, or observe any other religious beliefs they want, so long as they're not disruptive. Adults in schools do not have those rights -- they're employees of the state, not students who are required to be there. Nor can school assemblies or graduation ceremonies include student-led prayer, because all students must be there, and that removes the voluntary element.
Kids can privately observe any religion in schools. They just can't be disruptive or do it when other kids are forced to listen. If the school allows handing out chess club or dance flyers, it has to allow religious flyers -- and when it doesn't, the ACLU is there to defend the kids. The ACLU protects kids when adults want to force them to accept free Bibles, and it protects adults who want to hand out free Bibles near a school after school hours when an overzealous district wants those people gone.
The Republican Right doesn't like the ACLU because the ACLU refuses the right's coercive plans to force kids to pray in school or single themselves out as non-believers and targets for conversion. They don't like the ACLU because the ACLU defends all religious rights, including those of Muslims, Wiccans, and even atheists. But defend religious rights they do -- something the "religious right" is appalled to see.
posted on August 5, 2005 02:38:13 PM
fenix - I see absolutely no difference between a gay club meeting on school groups and getting support from the school districts than I do from the BS being given the SAME rights.
The same thing applies to religious groups. If other groups are allowed, and they are, to use the school facilities for after school meeting purposes, then there should be NO descrimination.
The left wants to pick which organization THEY approve of using tax dollars....and not allow the groups they don't want to use them. Doesn't and shouldn't work that way. Either all can or none can.
The decision the Senate made was 95-0. That should say something all by itself to those who don't approve. And it's expected to pass in the House easily.
Thank heaven there are SOME on the left who can see discrimination when it's occuring and are willing to make the playing field more level.
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and crowfarm - I financially support the ACLJ....the ACLU's opposition. They fight court cases all the time against the anti-American ACLU. So get rid of your broken crystal ball and don't tell me what I know and what I don't know. YOU'RE the one who doesn't know what I am aware of or not aware of. Take your lack of knowledge and make FALSE accusation about someone else. You haven't a clue.
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
[ edited by Linda_K on Aug 5, 2005 02:41 PM ]
posted on August 5, 2005 04:38:19 PM
fenix - I see absolutely no difference between a gay club meeting on school groups and getting support from the school districts than I do from the BS being given the SAME rights.
Then I don't know what to tell you. If you cvannot understand the difference between students meeting afterschool in the faciolities provided and people who have nothing to do with the school meeting there then I honestly don't know what to tell you. All I know is they should get rid of all of the meeting rooms and Eks Halls because according you your logic there seems to be little use for them - Just let everyone m,eet at the local elementary school.
::The left wants to pick which organization THEY approve of using tax dollars....::
No Linda - It's very simple - ANY PRIVATE organization should have to pay it's own way. Why is this so hard for you to understand?
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
No, I'm saying -- I'm merely -- I'm saying what I'm saying. I don't know why I'm always having people say, are you trying to say -- you know what you can do if you want to know what I'm saying is listen to what I'm saying. What I'm saying is what I said ...
posted on August 5, 2005 04:44:00 PM
So, LindaTwelveK , you support an association that's against civil liberty and justice for all.
Sounds like you hate America and the freedoms it stands for.
Once again, you only want rights for people you like.
Well, it doesn't work that way. America is about equal rights for everybody...not just people who agree with you.
But I really don't expect you to understand. After all, fenix's post were very clear and you can't seem to understand them????????
Boy it just wasn't their week.
